Machine for composing and setting types



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. LOUGHBOROUGH.

MACHINE FOR OOMPOSING OR SETTING TYPE.

N0.13,710. Patented Oct. 23, 1855.

\1 k F H j 503 0 0 8 8 *1 $0 0 3 SheetsS11eet 2. W. S. LOUGHBOROUGH. MACHINE FOR GOMPOSING 0R SETTING TYPE. No 13,710

Patented Oct. 23, 1855.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. S. LOUGHBOROUGH. MACHINE FOR GOMPOSING 0R SETTING TYPE.

N0.13,710. Patented Oct. 23, 1855.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. LOUGHBOROUGH,'OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

,MACHINE FOR COMPOSING AND SETTING-TYPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,710, dated October 23, 1855.

To aZZ'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. LOUGHBOR- OUGH, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Setting Types, whereby the operator is enabled to do the entire board 0, galley or composing chamber N,

type-cells U, bridge D, &c. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the inclined position of the type-cells- U,bed-plate Q, the arrangement of the lever G and its head z, the devices for efiecting the delivery of the types from the cell of js, the line-register'a and its fixtures, the lever vO, detent g, and the action of the keys, the. Fig. 3 is a perpendicular view of the front, showing the respective position of the manuscript M, needle or index N, index-plateK, bed-plate Q, and the key-board C. Fig. 4 is a View of a section of the reverse side of Fig. 3, showing the catches 'u/ I), which keep Q in its upright position, the rule or justifier M, the galley N, line-register a, and the cap Y of the galley.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a machine for setting types, which shall admit of a whole font, and the parts being so constructed and combined as to prevent the slightest possibility of confusion in the composition or of delay in the transmission of'the types from their respective cells to the galley, and which is effected so instantaneously that the operator may touch the key for an a or b immediately after touching for a y or z, or any other letter near either end of the alphabet, and yet they will be deposited into the galley in theorder in which their respective keys were touched, and by means of the indicator the lining is carried on with the greatest possible precision.

I propose to use a cast-iron-shell column Z, Fig. 2, for the foundation of the machine, of sufficient length to elevate the key-board to a convenient height for the operator. On the top of this column is adrum or cylinder V, from .six to ten inches deep, and with a diameter exceeding that of the composing-wheel NV by about six' and one-half to seven inches. The base-plate B of the type-cells 'rests on this cylinder. Said plate is inclined toward the center on its upper face for about four and one-half inches from its circumference,

as seen in Fig. 2. This inclination maybe ten degrees, (more or less,) but that of the type-cells and plate Q must be arranged to correspond therewith. The object of the inclination of these parts is to keep the types properly adjusted in their cells and also in the galley. A segment of B and V are removed from the front side so as to bring the galley N upto the wheel WV.

The type-cells U of the several cases of the the bottom, and their tops rest in a rack. Di-

rectly under each cell is a slide R, operating in a groove formed in the plate B, which admits of a centripetal and centrifugal movement of one and one-sixteenth inch. These slides should be as thick as the width of' the body of the types in the font to be used in the machine, and each should be so fitted-to its respective cell as to deliver but one type at once, which is done by making the blank elevation r of the slide to correspond to the thickness of the types in its cell, and the openings at the lower edge of the front band F must also agree with the thickness of the types contained in the cell opposite each. This band F should be faced with india-rubber or an equivalent next to the cells to prevent the face of the types from being marred or injured.

There is a spring S, Figs. 1 and 2, extending from the ring A to each slide, with which they are connected. Said springs are distended when the slides are in their 'proper position under the cells, where they are retained by the detents w until said detents are drawn out by touching the keys.

The composing-wheel W is constructed, as seen in Fig. 2, with an inclination toward its center for five inches from the periphery,

which inclination must also agree with that of the type-cells. There are cam-grooves in the lower face of the wheel under each transit. Their shape is shown by the red dotted lines in Fig. 1 at L and K, where the entrancegroove K approaches more directly toward the center of the wheel than the dischargegroove L. They open from and into its periphery and receive the tooth 0 of the slides R when the keys are touched.

The type bearers or transits are constructed with two jaws Hand 1, each having a difierent axis, that of H being near the periphery and preceding the entrance groove, and that of Ibeing about one inch from the periphery and following about the same distance from the angle in the grooves. stantly pressed out by the spring I), but the stop J permits the change shown by the dotted lines, as at the instant of delivering a type. of H, through which I passes, and one shoultier of this recess limits the opening of I. The spring a is constructed, as seen in Fig. 6, for the purpose of securing the jaw I'at either extreme of being open or closed.

n, is a tappet fixed to the jaw I, and hangs in the angle of the groove, which brings it in a line with the mouth or jaws of the transit and the slides R, and is drawn out by the cog or tooth 0, bringing the jaw with it and closing it upon the type; The tappet m is fixed to the upper side of the same jaw, which opens it for the delivery of a type by striking the adjuster k, which also changes the pressure of the spring 0' to the opposite bevel and holds it open until the tooth of a slide shall close it again. The other jaw H is opened at the same instant by the adjuster j striking thetappet v. The object of placing n so near the axis of H is to produce the greatest possible change at its extreme end by the slightest touch of the adjuster j. The face of these jaws where they grasp the types should be about three-eighths of an inch verti-.

cally by thre'e-sixteenths of an inch horizontally. They should also be faced with some elastic substance. These transitsanay be constructed as seen in Fig. 8, where both jaws have a common axis. The jaw 1' is thrown open by the adjuster k, which should be hung to suit this'construction of the transits,- striking the spur of the jaw, and it is held open by the hook on the end of the spring b' catching the spur. The end of said spring is turned, down through the opening in the wheel, and hangs in the angle of the groove similar to n on the jaw I but the tooth of a slide, when delivering its type, instead of drawing the spring out throws it'toward the There is a recess across the under side centerof the wheel, which unhooks it from the spur of the jaw 1", and the spring 0" causes said jaw to grasp the type. This spring acts upon both jaws. The stop J' keeps the jaw H properly adjusted for the reception of a type as the 'wheel revolves. The jaw H may be opened simultaneously with the other by the adj uster 3', but is thrown back by the spring 0'' immediately after passing j. The groove K is curved at its entrance in order to prevent a concussion which might otherwise occur by the tooth o striking too suddenly against its side. The discharge-groove may also be curved so as to bring it on about the same angle with the slides at all points as they pass out. It may be found expedient to close the entrancegroove as soon as the transit shall have received a type to prevent any other slide from entering until the type already received shall have been delivered, which may be done by applying a slide to the periphery of the wheel The jaw H is conand connecting itwith the jaw I, that when the'jaw is open the groove shall be also, and vice versa. The discharge-groove L may be closed at all times except when the tooth of a slide passes out by applying a spring to close it, and the pressure from the tooth of the receding slide shall open it. It will be observed that the end of the slides when thrown outare one-eighth of an inch from the wheel, the object of which is that when the detent w is drawn out the spring S may bring the slides in that one-eighth of an inch, which prevents the detentfrom rc-entering thenotch, in which case that type would have been omitted in the composition if a transit did not happen to be opposite at the veryinstant the key was touched. The cam to, Fig. 1, is turned upon its axis by the pressure from the tooth o as it passes out, and when thus turned it reaches one-eighth of an inch beyond'the periphery of the wheel, thereby forcing the slide back to its place, The bridge or rest D is bolted to the base-plate B, and supports the vibrating lever G, which has a positive and uniform vertical motion received from the tappets T on the face of the wheel, the spring Y giving the counter motion and as often as a transit'passes the point of delivery, said point being at the guard-plate P, Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The spring s keeps the lower face of the head 2' parallel with the types, as it dresses them down into the line,

by forcing the point at the bottom against the plate Q, as seen in Fig. 2. Another construction and application of this head is to fixadovetail tenon on its reverse side, and a corresponding groove in the plate P for said tenon-to move in vertically to the type, fix the spring s to the plate Q and head i, as shown by the dotted line, and let the lever G rest on a pivot at the present axis of '11.

The composing chamber or galley N, Figs. 1, 2, and, 4, into which the types are set I construct in' the usual form, except the elevation on the side, which is only about one-third as high as the length of the types.

The bed-plate Q extends across the machine in front and directly over the key-board.

It hangs on the pivots P, and is kept in its upright position by the catchesu o, each dropping into a notch in the sides m Fig. 3. Said catches are withdrawn when the lining requires a change of the spacing. or when the galley is to be removed, by pressing the thumb-piece L, when it may be swung down to its horizontal position, where it rests on the points G. There is a recess formed in this plate from end to end for the galley to slide in. The arm'C is connected with the heavy portion of this plate and supports the lineregister a, Figs. 2 and 4.

The rod E, Fig. 2, carries the needle or index N over the index-plate K, Fig. 3.

The spring B. is attached to the cross-head f of the line-register a, between it and E.

The cam-ratch b is constructed and applied, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to allow the bar or line-register a to move down or recede according to the thickness of each type or space deposited by the transits, but to prevent it from returning until the line shall be filled, when the point e strikes the ratch b near its axis and changes it to the position of the dotted lines, thus throwing the spring y into the notch g, which holds it there until the barn, is thrown up by the spring 13, which is done as soon as the galley-is moved forward, so, as to clear the end of the bar a, and the setscrew 6, when the bar rises, strikes the ratch b and throws it back again, when the spring f, through the detentvg, presses it down onto the bar.

The lever O rests in the swivel q, Fig. 5, which admits of its horizontal and vertical changes by the'lever turning on the pin in the swivel and that turning in the hanger 1"; or the lever may be made to swing verticallyin the hanger and that to turn in the plate B.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the lever 0, showing the set-screw H, which receives the strokes from the tappets t, and by which the change of the justifier m is gaged. The depressing-face of thetappets t(shown by the diagonal line) throws the opposite end of the lever 0 up immediately after making the horizontal change,

when the tooth of the detent g catches under the projection J, thereby preventing another vibration until the next line shall be filled, when the arm (Z throws the detent gin the position of the dotted lines, thus relieving the lever O, and the spring e brings it up horizontally, as shown by the dotted lines, and the tappet strikes the screw II, forcing it out from the shaft, and the opposite end of the lever carries the j-ustifier M forward and the depressing-face of the tappet forces the lever back to its present position, where it is caught and held by the detent g, as before shown. The spring 8 is attached to the plate 13 beyond the shaft A, and consequently drawing,

space for the next line.

as it does, diagonally on the lever, it counteracts both its horizontal and vertical changes, and the instant the tappet passes the screw H the justifier M is drawn back, leaving a must be so arranged as to be ready to make the change described above immediately aftera transit passes the point of delivery; but said change being consequent upon the completion of a line in the composition, the action of the tappet i is rendered very irregular as to time.

The small js cannot be delivered from the cell in the same manner as the other types because the dot or spur extends beyond the body of the type, and that of each hooks over the end of the one next below it as they lie in the cell; but this difliculty is obviated by applying the detent Fig. 2. The spring (1, holds it in so as to prevent the column of types from settling onto the slide, leaving a space for one type above the elevation 0". As the slide is drawn in the tappet q presses up the arm of the detent 19, thereby removing the pressure from the types, and the column settles the thickness of one, and when the slide returns the detent again prevents their settling, except the one which passed below the point of the detent, and that drops onto the plane .9 of the slide, ready for the next .delivery. The detent p and spring (1 are fixed to the band E. The same application must be made to several of the cells in the case of italics.

The cells containing the spacing are brought in as far as the difierence in their length and that of the body of the types, as seen at 8:, Fig. 1, so as to efiect their delivery from the slides to the transits. I propose to use pivot-keys in order to bring them into the smallest practicable compass. Those of the lower case, spacing, punctuation-points, and figures are arranged on the first grade of the key-board, the spacing to the right hand, the alphabet next, punctuation-points next, occupying both rows of keys alternately, those of the capitals on the next grade, a little above and farther back, the small capitals on the next, the italics next, and the italic capitals on the last, making five grades on the key-board for a whole font, and each distinct from the others. This arrangement brings the keys of the types most in request nearestat hand.

The action of the keys is shown in Fig. 2. h is the lever which connects the keys 0 with the detents w. Thespring g presses the detent up. or there may be a counter-balance on the opposite end of the levers h. The rest 70 of the levers runs circularly, so asto bring the fulcrum of each equidistant from its key and the detent. It is supported by occasional stanchions j. The rest m is similarly supported, but runs straight. The rest '11 lies on the base of the key-board. The cap Y protects the face of the types in the galley and These tappets shown. The upper bearing of the shaft A is' in the base-plate B, and the lower one is at the bottom of the column Z. It may be driven byda bevel gear connected near the lower on A machine to admit a whole font of types should have a composing-wheel from eighteen to twenty-two inches in diameter, or larger, if desired, which brings the largest machines within the compass of three feet.

Summary of the operation: The types are placed in their respective cells with thei'r face or lettered end out and the nicked side to the left as they stand in the machine. The manuscript is placed as seen at M ,Fig. 3. The operator then reads a line or sentence/touches the key'for a space, then for a capital letter,

and then for a small one,'and so on, making his selections as in the case of setting into a stick, simply by touching the keys, and every letter, space, &c., is brought into the composition as he shall direct, and without delay or confusion. He sees at a glance, from the position of the needle or index, the precise point to which theline is filled, and the graduated scales on the right showing whatspacing is required to fill out the line from any point, and those on the left showing whatletters may be brought into the line fro m any point enables him to do the lining, &,c., with even greater precision and dispatch than when setting into a stick. When he sees'that the spacing must be changed, he swings the bed-plate Q down over the key-board, makes the necessary change, readjusts it, and proceeds. For convenience at such times, he may have a small case of spacing at hand. When a key is touched, the detent w is drawn out and the tooth of the slide enters the groove K, and the type is delivered to the jaws of the transit, when the "discharge groove L and the cam a throw the slide back to its place, and the type is conveyed to the point ofdelivery, where it is deposited in the angle of the lineregister a, and guard-plate P. The head 'i presses it down into the line, the bar a recedes according to its thickness, whether thick or thin, and so on until the line is filled, when the galley is thrown forward by the justifier M the depth of the line, relieving the bar a, and it flies back to its place, carrying the needle or index up to the top of the plate K,

ready to commence the next line. When the galley is filled or an article finished, it may -be transferred. When a cell is emptied, it

may be removed and filled; or, if desirable,

there may be two sets, that one may be filled while the other is in the machine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The presentation of the type-cells in the machine, those of each case in the font forming the are or segment of a circle, in the manner herein specified.

2. The means above described, or their equivalents, which shall deliver the typesfrom the various cells into the jaws of transits fixed to a wheel or other rotary motion.

3. The construction and application of the transits, as described, or their equivalents, attached to a wheel or other rotary motion, for conveying the types from the slides or their equivalents to the galley or composingchamber.

4. The combination of the lever G, head i, tappets T, and springs Y and S with the lineregister a and its appurtenances, the lever 0, rule or just-ifier M, detent g, and the index N", and index-plate K, whereby the operator is enabled, simply by touching the keys, to

do the entire business of composing types, and withoutatransfer of each line separately.

WM. S. LOUGHBOROUGH'. Witnesses;

I. H. GODDARD, S. O. FERGUSON. 

